US20160353808A1

US20160353808A1 - Sock for use when cleaning

Info

Publication number: US20160353808A1
Application number: US15/244,165
Authority: US
Inventors: Thor Øyvind Rafto; Line Beate Ulstein
Original assignee: Rafto Raske
Current assignee: Rafto Raske
Priority date: 2014-02-25
Filing date: 2016-08-23
Publication date: 2016-12-08
Also published as: NO335856B1; WO2015130176A1; EP3133943A1; NO20140244A1; CN106255432A

Abstract

A watertight sock with vent holes for use when cleaning is made from, for example, rubber, latex, or nitrile. Vent holes provide for sufficient ventilation. Elastics, knotting, or extra stretchable material provide for the sock to stay in place. Anti-skid material provides that the wearer does not skid. A cut provides for snug fit on the foot, and a flossy inside provides that the sock is easy to put on and take off over textile or skin.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/NO2015/050040. Priority is claimed from Norwegian Patent Application No. 20140244 filed on Feb. 25, 2014.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates to the field of footwear garments, referred to as “socks.” More particularly, the disclosure relates to socks work during cleaning.
Footwear garments known in the art include a “Waterproof breathable sock”, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,809,447, which discloses footwear where the uppermost part thereof is made of breathable (moisture permeable) material. The sock disclosed in the '477 patent does not have specifically arranged breathing holes at the wrist and calf or in other limited areas. In the disclosed sock the material in itself is breathable. The disclosed waterproof breathable sock in the '477 patent is not meant to address the need for a watertight sock for use in floor cleaning.
“Sole coated toe sock”, United States Patent Application Publication No. 2012/00900077 A1 discloses a breathable sock for use when “running barefoot”, i.e., without shoes. The disclosed sock does not have specifically located breathing holes by the wrist and calf or in other limited areas. The disclosed sole coated toe sock is not designed to address the need for a watertight sock for use in floor cleaning.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a side view of an example embodiment of a sock according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure relates to a watertight sock with vent holes for use in floor cleaning.
The objective technical problem to be solved is how to provide footwear suitable for floor cleaning, preventing water, soap, and chemicals from getting in direct contact with skin and textiles on a foot.
The sock may also be used for other activities such as floor painting or floor oiling.
The sock is made from soft and pliable material such as rubber, nitrile or latex in such a way that it may easily be tread on the foot. The sock may be reused several times.
In the first place the sock is watertight, but vent holes are arranged in specific areas by the wrist and the calf such that the sock does not accumulate humidity when used. It is also feasible to have vent holes in other specific locations such as around the calf, at the backside of the calf, at the ankle, at the Achilles heel, and on the heel.
Uppermost on the sock and by the ankle, elastic, knotting, tighter rubber, nitrile or latex material, or another tightening mechanism may hinder the sock from curling itself up, or falling down.
A tightening mechanism may be located for rapid treading of the sock, and or snug fit on the foot.
The sock may be wide enough in some embodiments to make room for a trouser leg within the sock, and the trouser leg thereby not getting wet.
Anti-skid material arranged under the sock will provide that the sock will not skid, thus protecting the user.
A curving between toes and heel provides that the sock fits snugly on the foot.
The inside of the sock in one embodiment is flossy such that it may easily be pulled up on the outside of clothes.
FIG. 1 shows the sock with specific location of vent holes by the wrist (1), vent holes by the calf (2), tightening means at the calf (3), tightening means by the ankle (4), and anti-skid material under the sock at the toe balls (5), and at the heel (6), and curving under the foot (7), and wide shape at the calf (8).
The sock can be manufactured by dipping adapted model feet in latex, rubber, or nitrile, and thereafter it is sprayed with finely chopped cotton or another material on the inside, and vulcanized such that it becomes elastic. The sock may be manufactured in one integral unit with breathing holes and elastic latex material and anti-skid in strategic areas, or some parts may be produced separately. The sock may be manufactured in different colors, patterns, and sizes.
Although only a few examples have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the examples. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure as defined in the following claims. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures. Thus, although a nail and a screw may not be structural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to secure wooden parts together, whereas a screw employs a helical surface, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail and a screw may be equivalent structures. It is the express intention of the applicant not to invoke 35 U.S.C. §112(f), for any limitations of any of the claims herein, except for those in which the claim expressly uses the words “means for” together with an associated function.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A watertight sock comprising specifically located vent holes for use when floor cleaning to hinder water, soap, and chemicals from contact with skin and textiles,

characterized by the specifically located vent holes being arranged in a limited area at a wrist and a calf, the vent holes providing sufficient ventilation to avoid accumulation of humidity inside the sock;

the calf being sufficiently wide and high to enable a trousers leg to be placed within the sock; and

an inside of the sock being flossy allowing pulling the sock up outside the trousers leg.

2. The watertight sock according to claim 1, further characterized by the strategically located tightening means in form of elastics, knotting, or extra stretchable material at the wrist and calf.

3. The watertight sock according to claim 1 further characterized by strategically arranged anti-skid material under a foot at toe balls and/or at a heel.

4. The watertight sock according to claim 1 further characterized by curving under a foot between toe balls and a heel.

5. The watertight sock according to claim 1, further characterized by making at least part of the sock from at least one of latex, rubber, nitrile, or other flexible and watertight material.

6. The watertight sock according to claim 1, further characterized by the sock being without tightening means.

7. The watertight sock according to claim 1, further characterized by the sock being without anti-skid material.

8. The watertight sock according to claim 1, further characterized by the sock being without curving under the foot.

9. A watertight sock for use when cleaning, comprising vent holes located in an area around a calf, at the back of the calf, at an ankle, at the Achilles heel, and at a heel of the sock.

10. The watertight sock according to claim 9 characterized by the sock being without a wide and high calf.

11. The watertight sock according to claim 9 characterized by an inside of the sock not being flossy.

12. The watertight sock according to claim 9, characterized by tightening means located around the ankle.